Review of The Great McGinty (1940) by Dan B — 05 Mar 2009

Preston Sturges takes on political corruption, though I think his cynicism prevents him from reaching for the same satisfying resolution you get in Capraâ??s Mr. Smith. I donâ??t feel Sturgesâ?? heart is really in the moral awakening of his lead character.

Would make an interesting double bill with Meet John Doe as they start very similarly (though Capraâ??s target there is the press). Overall itâ??s something of an oddity, with a very simple and stripped back story, but the cast are great (particularly Donleavy, William Demarest and the relatively unremembered Muriel Angelus) and thereâ??s an undeniable energy.